Whitman-Hanson Regional School District

2019-2020

School Budget

“Semper ad Maiora”

The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District is committed to providing each student with a high

quality education that promotes responsible citizenship.

We believe our schools… make all decisions in the best interest of students. are committed to providing a safe, secure, and healthy environment. set high academic standards that provide an opportunity for each student to reach his/her full potential. embrace personal responsibility and an understanding and respect for others. provide student-centered learning environments where successes and mistakes are valued as part of the learning process. support staff initiative, innovation, and professional development. share the responsibility for education with students, parents, and community. promote broad-based communication and school-family-community partnerships. utilize technology as an essential part of teaching and learning.

Whitman-Hanson Regional School District 610 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA 02382

Tel: 781.618.7000

School Budget

2019-2020

WHITMAN – HANSON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN

The Regional School Committee approved the three-year Strategic Plan for the school system through the 2019-20 school year. Action Plans, developed for each year of the plan, focus on strategic objectives and initiatives. Each one aligns with the plan’s Pillars of Success which identify what matters most in ensuring excellent educational outcomes for the children of Whitman and Hanson. Throughout this school year, the Action Plans have been implemented, monitored, and evaluated. The School Improvement Plans in each one of our schools are aligned with the Pillars of Success. The Leadership Team included the fiscal implications of the three pillars, the strategic objectives, and strategic initiatives when the budget for the upcoming school year was developed.

Pillar I: Every Child, Every Day with healthy minds & healthy bodies

Pillar II: A Cohesive PreK-grade 12 System of Teaching & Learning

Pillar III: Safe and Secure Schools

Most of the funding for the school system comes from the Operating Budget; however, allocation and competitive grants, foundation funds, and our partnerships with area collaboratives provide valuable services and programs. Over 85 positions in the school system are funded outside of the operating budget by federal grants: Title I, Title IIA, and IDEA (special education); revolving funds (full day kindergarten/pre-school/athletics); and the Food Services program.

This proposed budget funds a level services budget which provides students with similar services in the upcoming school year, 2019-2020, as those that are in place this year, 2018-2019. This budget does not add new programs or positions; however, it does adjust for changes in curriculum materials for Math and a continuation of our technology plan initiated last year. It also represents a restructuring of positions and responsibilities to other areas to maximize efficiency and create equity for all students.

The proposed level services budget maintains todays’ educational services. This is far better than losing programs and staff as we have in the past. Nevertheless, the programs and resources necessary for the successful achievement of the desired outcomes of the District’s Strategic Plan 2017-2020 require funding beyond level services.

The Strategic Plan and FY2020 budget are available at www.whrsd.org following the February 6, 2019 budget hearing.

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School Budget

2019-2020

The FY2019-2020 Budget Whitman-Hanson Regional School District Number of Schools: Elementary…………………... 3 Middle…………………………. 2 High…………………………… 1 TOTAL SCHOOLS…………..6

District reserves (Excess & Deficiency)was certified by the Department Revenue in the amount of $ 961,237. Reserves are the District’s savings account, available for unexpected expenses. As a regional school system, the District cannot return to towns for additional funding during the school year for unanticipated expenses. By statute, the maximum a regional school district is permitted to have in reserves is 5% of the operating budget.

BUDGET FACTS Level Services Budget = The Operating Budget funds services in 2019-2020 that are similar to the services provided in 2018-2019. Level Services Budget Increases = Contracts (Personnel, Transportation, Copy Center, Custodial Services), Utilities, Retirement Assessments, & Health Insurance, Underfunded and Unfunded Mandates In addition to the Operating Budget, the District is awarded allocation, competitive, and collaborative grants that total over $1.65 million. Grants, Revolving Accounts, and E-rate (federal) fund 88 staff positions.

The School Budget packet provides factual information about the proposed operating budget for the 2019-2020 school year. A budget of $53,562,534 is being presented to town officials, the Regional School Committee, and the public. The Whitman-Hanson operating budget is largely funded by state aid and the local assessment for schools. In order to balance the budget, revenue and costs must be the same. State aid and the local assessment for schools are the two major revenue sources of the District’s operating budget. State aid (Chapter 70, Regional Transportation Reimbursement, Circuit Breaker) provides an estimated 52% of the funding for the WHRSD. Local contributions provide 48% of the revenue of the District’s budget.

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School Budget

2019-2020

What funding does Whitman-Hanson receive?

State funding includes Chapter 70, Circuit Breaker, Chapter 71 (regional transportation reimbursement), and federal grants. Federal grants include funds for special education, safety/social emotional learning, English Language Learners, academic support and Medicaid reimbursements.

State/Federal Funds Local Aid/Assessments Local aid revenue comes from Whitman and Hanson in the form of the annual assessment, non-mandated transportation costs, and debt assessments which are used for payment of school building construction.

District funds include money from interest, athletic fees, school choice, building use and special education and pre-K / full day K tuition.

District

What does the budget provide for our schools and our students? • Quality instruction from caring and

competent teachers • Specialized learning for students with special

needs • Counseling, speech and occupational

therapies, and other support services • Learning materials such as textbooks, paper,

instruments, art supplies, technology, and workbooks

• Transportation to and from school, if qualified

• Healthcare services • Extracurricular activities • Safe, orderly, and maintained learning

environments • Athletic Programs

Local Funds & Town

Assessments

State & Federal Funds & Grants

District Revolving Accounts

Total Revenue

The operating budget includes expenses such as salaries and benefits, utilities, supplies, special education tuition, athletics, and transportation. The operating budget pays for the day-to-day expenses of running the district. It is funded by local, state, and federal funds. Generally, when people refer to the Whitman-Hanson School budget, they are talking about the operating budget.

Types of Budgets

Whitman-Hanson also has revolving funds and grants which are integral to many the programs and services. The largest of these revolving funds is the school lunch program. In fact, the school lunch program contributes funding to the operating budget in the form of annual payments for utilities. Grants add to the operating budget of the District. Tuition programs such as the full day kindergarten and integrated pre-school, the driver education program, summer camps, and user fees generate revenue to revolving accounts, which are then used to pay expenses for these programs.

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School Budget

2019-2020

The Operating Budget

The administrative team works together to develop an operating budget that is presented to the School Committee. The School Committee discusses, reviews, and certifies the budget, approving a final version, which is sent to the Board of Selectmen in each town. The Selectmen place the school budget on the warrant for the annual town meetings. The operating budget includes local revenue from assessments to the towns of Whitman and Hanson to fund the operating budget.

The School District’s expenses increase in the same way as personal and household expenses. The proposed budget for the 2019-2020 school represents an increase of 5.6%. Rising health insurance rates, contractual agreements for staffing, transportation and custodial services, and the cost for utilities (water, gas, electricity, technology) are the main contributors to the increased costs for Level Services. Also, underfunded and unfunded mandates from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education add to the budget.

Underfunded and Unfunded Mandates WHRSD is responsible for: Anticipated

Unfunded Underfunded FY2018 ACTUAL COST REIMBURSEMENT UNDERFUNDED

SPED Costs: Tuition Costs ONLY X 3,001,446 -

2,048,798

Circuit Breaker Eligible X 1,323,122 952,648

370,474

SPED :Transportation X 897,275 -

897,275

Transportation- Mandated X 1,124,320 823,284

301,036

Homeless X 39,011 12,484

26,527

ELL (2) Teachers X 159,618 -

159,618

Educator Evaluation x 7,500 -

7,500

School Choice x 65,822 -

65,822

Charter x 634,405 160,541

473,864

Staffing PD- Course Reimbursement x 90,000 -

90,000

SIMS & EPIMS x 80,000 -

80,000

Reporting & Auditing EOY Reporting x 34,000 -

34,000

Educational Services to Students who are expelled or suspended from school:Tecca/Gateway x

12,128 -

12,128

Administrative Mandates with Cost Implications: x CPI- Restraint Training 12,500 -

12,500

x PK - Integrated 650,000 ** 162,000

488,000

**tuition based model -

-

-

students 8,131,147

2,110,957

5,067,542

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School Budget 2019-2020

FINAL BUDGET FY 2019 50,523,181

PROPOSED BUDGET FY 2020 53,562,534 INCREASE ($) 3,039,353 INCREASE (%)

5.6%

FY 2020 ESTIMATED REVENUES

FY 2020 – State Aid: Chapter 70, Transportation, Circuit Breaker (Based on Governor’s Proposed Budget 1/23/2019)

26,046,617

FY 2020 – Interest, Medicaid , Charter 304,699

FY 2020 - Local (School Assessment, Non-Mandated Bussing, Debt) Figure based on the following 3 assessments: 1) October 1 certified student enrollment-> determines operating

assessment of each town based on level dollar amount of FY19 2)Non-Mandated bussing 3) Debt FY 2020 LOCAL AID TOTAL

22,183,526

500,361

890,983

23,574,870

ANTICIPATED REVENUES FY2019 ESTIMATED REVENUE FY 2020 DECREASE ($) DECREASE (%)

BUDGET DEFICIT

50,523,181 49,926,186

596,995 -1.2%

$3,636,348

Underfunded and Unfunded Mandates Total $5,067,542

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DESE Chart of Accounts School Budget 2019-2020

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History of Grant Funding School Budget 2019-2020

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Salaries Funded Outside of the General Fund

School Budget 2019-2020

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Assessment Schedule School Budget 2019-2020

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